Bugkalot customary law on property and inheritance

The ability of cultural community to progress and preserve itself as a distinct people is anchored on a social order that is nurtured and shaped by the people themselves. This social order, popularly known as customary law, determines the existing social relationships in the community and to the land they claimed to be their own. Although customary laws are unwritten, they are nonetheless, committed to the collected memory; thus, ensuring order in the community.

This study is primarily a documentation of the customary law of the Bugkalots in matters pertaining to property and inheritance. It sought to determine the Bugkalots’ concept of property and ownership, modes of acquisition and the formalities accompanying every transaction; customary laws on inheritance and succession; disposition of property and the settlement of disputes over property ownership and conveyance.

The study was conducted in Landingan, Nagtipunan, Quirino and informants were the group leaders, elders, barangay officials and some of the community members. Anthropological research methods such as fieldwork, interviews, and case studies were used in the study. Results reveal that the Bugkalots have preserved their distinct concepts of property and ownership, vital in the maintaining group of solidarity and identity. Although their lands are untitled, the process of governing inheritance and succession among natural children, adopted children, illegitimate children, second marriage, widow, widower and divorced couples are still crafted within the purview of the customary laws. This olds true with the resolution of disputes over property ownership and conveyance despite the external forces of their environment.